Written by SINAG Staffers
Content warning: This article contains accounts of sexual abuse and harassment.
On March 4, 2026, the University of the Philippines Diliman University Student Council (USC) placed College of Arts and Letters (CAL) Representative Jobert D. Pillas under a 30-day preventive suspension after learning that the representative is currently facing a criminal-legal case. The USC’s announcement referenced Article X, Section 2 of their Constitution, which allows the suspension or expulsion of any member for misconduct undermining the council’s integrity. The statement, however, did not specify details of the criminal case.
According to members of the USC, who in their personal capacity and not representative of the council, spoke to SINAG on the condition of anonymity, the decision was made during a closed-door emergency general assembly with limited information about the nature of the case. Details regarding the violation only surfaced on March 6 through independent reporting.
In an interview with SINAG, College of Media and Communication (CMC) Representative Yanna Avergonzado said council members were informed that Pillas had been detained and was facing a criminal case, but were not told the specific nature of the allegation during the March 2 meeting.
“We didn’t know the specifics of the case,” Avergonzado said, clarifying that she was speaking in her personal capacity and not on behalf of the council. She added that questions raised during the meeting could not be fully addressed because the information shared with council members at the time was limited.
The Philippine Collegian previously reported that Pillas is in police custody on possible violations of Republic Act 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law.
Pillas is the current CAL Rep. to the USC, who ran under the Laban Kabataan coalition last May 2025 in the University Student Council elections. As a member of the council, he also heads the USC’s Finance Committee. He is also a member of the National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates (NNARA) Youth and serves as a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Councilor in Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati City.
With information about the case emerging at different points over the past week, questions remain about when the council first learned of the incident, what information was available during the emergency assembly, and how the decision to impose preventive suspension was reached.
Below is a timeline of events based on statements, interviews, documents, and correspondence SINAG has gathered.
February 27, The Arrest
On February 27, 2026, Jobert Pillas was arrested by the Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) and was then taken to QCPD Station 9, an arrest not made public to the CAL Rep’s constituents.
According to an email correspondence between SINAG and the USC, Chairperson Joaquin Buenaflor first learned about the case on the morning of the same day, as Pillas contacted him and asked for legal assistance.
March 2, Emergency Meeting
According to a statement released by the CAL SC, the USC called for them to attend and provide manifestations in an emergency closed-door General Assembly (GA). The USC disclosed that during the meeting, Pillas had been facing criminal charges and was already detained at the time of the meeting.
However, the specific nature of the allegation was not disclosed due to the legal sensitivity of the matter and the absence of consent from the complainant to release further details.
In a response to SINAG, the USC said Pillas’ legal counsel, who is also a council representative, attended the meeting in a personal capacity and did not represent the council. The legal counsel answered limited questions that could be disclosed, including matters related to visitation. According to the USC, council members recognized that they were not in a position to provide a full account of the matter, given the limited information available at the time.
In the same interview with SINAG, Avergonzado mentioned several councilors raised questions during the meeting, but were unable to receive full clarification. “Nangangapa ako personally, at during the meeting ganu’n din ang ibang mga tao—councilors, college reps, CALSC—kasi walang hint sa kung anong specific na kaso ba ang hinaharap ni Jobert,” she said.
The family and legal counsel of the accused also formally requested that the details of the case be treated with utmost privacy and remain confidential. The council standard bearers deemed this request reasonable and appropriate, particularly in light of the discretion and jurisdiction vested in the USC under the Constitution and House Rules, and therefore chose not to publicize the nature of the case.
This decision meant a vote would have been made with a lack of proper understanding regarding the full grasp of the situation, a presumption that would later be confirmed by USC members who requested anonymity and were referred to by SINAG as USC Members A and B.
March 4, The Announcement
On March 4, the USC released a statement announcing a unanimous decision of members present that the USC has placed Pillas under preventive suspension for thirty (30) days, following a report that he is currently facing a criminal-legal case.
The council cited Article X, Section 2 of the USC Constitution, which allows the suspension of members for misconduct that may undermine the integrity of the council. Invoking Rule XVIII, Section 2A of the House Rules, the assembly approved the preventive suspension while legal proceedings remain ongoing.
When asked why the council did not disclose the nature of the allegation, the USC said the decision was made out of respect for all the parties involved, including the wishes of the representative’s family.
However, CMC Rep Avergonzado said that council members understood that the matter was legally sensitive but acknowledged that the limited details shared during the meeting created uncertainty among some members. “Everyone in the meeting was not sure of what to do,” she said,noting that several councilors did not know the nature of the case during the deliberations.
When asked if the council relied on any documentation or confirmation in deciding to impose the preventive suspension, the USC said that they primarily relied on the limited information shared by the CAL Representative’s legal counsel and family, with reference to the Council’s Constitution and House Rules for the succeeding steps.
March 4, SINAG Inbox
On the same day, moments after USC’s announcement, SINAG released a news articleregarding the suspension of CAL Rep. Pillas, citing an alleged criminal case that “violates the integrity and ethics of the USC,” as well as additional information made public by the USC.
Later that evening, the publication received a message from a USC councilor requesting “on behalf of Pillas’ legal counsel and family” that SINAG take down the picture used in the graphic for the aforementioned news article, as well as a request to restrict the comment section of the article.
The USC councilor asked, “If pwede raw po sanang wala na lang raw pong picture yung announcement [regarding] the statement and to restrict the comments daw po sana sa post since they are worried na baka dagsain ng trolls online.”
Citing their mandate to report on matters that concern the community, SINAG’s editorial board responded through a return message explaining that they did not divulge any sensitive information beyond what was already stated in the official USC statement.
The photo utilized by the publication was sourced from a public Facebook post of Kalasag, the official student publication of CAL. As part of public reportage, the use of publicly available material does not constitute a violation. They maintained that the comment section serves as a space for discourse among members of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) community and the broader university public.
March 5, The Mugshot
SINAG, through an anonymous email, received an unverified photograph of what appeared to be the mugshot of Pillas detained in QCPD Station 9. The image contained a photo of Pillas holding a placard citing the Anti-Rape Law. In addition, the same photograph was sent twice to SINAG via an anonymous Facebook message on March 6, 11:54 AM.
However, SINAG was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the photograph and therefore treated the material as unverified.
March 6, Allegation Reported
In a news article released by the Philippine Collegian on March 6, CAL Rep Pillas was reported as facing possible violations of the Anti-Rape Law (RA 8353).
According to the article, a phone call to the police station where Pillas is being held, along with a mugshot obtained and independently verified by the Collegian, confirmed he could be prosecuted for these possible violations.
The CAL SC, later said in a statement released on March 7, 2026, that it only learned of the nature of the allegation through the article released by the Philippine Collegian, despite attending the earlier emergency assembly where the specific charge had not been disclosed.
March 6, Not an Isolated Case
On the same day, the anonymous source who sent the mugshot on SINAG’s Facebook account messaged again, claiming that there were other victims of similar alleged sexual abuse by Pillas.
Later that evening, a person who identified themselves as a victim-survivor, and requested anonymity, shared with SINAG an account of alleged abuse involving the CAL representative. A written narrative detailing their experience was later sent to the publication on March 7.
According to the survivor, the incident they described allegedly occurred on August 13, 2025, when Pillas allegedly committed a similar act. The survivor met Pillas shortly after arriving at the university, during a period they described as a difficult transition to campus life.
In their account, the survivor noted that Pillas held a position in a student organization and was among the first individuals they interacted with during their early weeks on campus. This position, coupled with the survivor’s unfamiliarity with the university and a limited support network, created an environment in which they felt unable to immediately speak out.
Consequently, the survivor remained silent for several months, citing a deep sense of isolation and a lack of trusted individuals they felt they could safely approach for help.
March 6, Redirected Conversations
On March 6, SINAG sent emails containing interview questions to the concerned offices of the University Student Council (USC), USC Gender Officer Ynigo Panghulan, College of Arts and Letters Student Council (CAL SC), and National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates (NNARA) Youth.
On the same day, SINAG went to the Anonas QCPD Station 9 to officially request confirmation on whether Pillas is currently under their custody or detention. However, the station commander was not present during the time of the visit, thus SINAG was unable to procure a confirmation, but the station has confirmed the receipt of SINAG’s request.
Later that afternoon, during the Purple Day of Action build-up for the International Working Women’s Day (IWWD) protest, SINAG requested an interview with NNARA Youth member Dyul Avila.
Avila responded, “Wala na kaming masasabi pa bukod sastatement ng organization dahil wala ng information na nilabas o binigay ang pamilya ni Jobert Pillas.” The email that SINAG sent to NNARA Youth remained unanswered after this encounter.
A few hours later, the publication received a response from the CAL SC wherein they stated, “In direct response to the questions, the CAL SC has no knowledge of the nature of the [Pillas] case.”
According to the CAL SC, a discussion was held between the local council and the USC regarding the “appropriate procedures needed to be taken in accordance with the constitution and house rules of USC.” The contents of this meeting have yet to be disclosed to the public.
The CAL SC, under the orders of their Chairperson Reina Hortel, called for an emergency closed-door meeting to discuss filling the vacancy of the CAL Representative position and had submitted an endorsement for a replacement to the USC.
After follow-ups and an attempt at an ambush interview, the day ended without a response from the USC.
As of writing, the USC Gender Officer, Ynigo Panghulan, has not responded to SINAG’s request for comment.
March 7, USC Response
Come March 7th, SINAG received a response to the questions sent to the USC via email, wherein they reiterated learning about the case of Pillas on February 27 when the CAL Rep. asked USC Chair Buenaflor for legal assistance.
In the emergency GA, councilors were informed that Pillas was detained and facing a criminal case, but the specific charge was not disclosed due to the “sensitive nature of the matter, lack of verified information, and a request for privacy from the representative’s family.”
The USC said the matter would be revisited after the 30-day preventive suspension period, while the CAL SC appoints a temporary representative.
The CAL SC, along with the USC, also released a statement condemning all forms of violence and sexual assault following the allegations involving the CAL representative, reiterating that such accusations contradict the ethical standards expected of student leaders.
Uncertainties Remain
Based on documents, statements, and interviews gathered by SINAG, the timeline shows that the USC, in the person of the Chairperson Joaquin Buenaflor, learned of Pillas’ detention on February 27 and later moved to place the CAL representative under preventive suspension through an emergency assembly on March 2 that formally took effect on March 3.
Council members said the decision was made based on limited information about the case disclosed during the meeting.
Details regarding the possible nature of the allegation surfaced publicly several days later through reporting by the Philippine Collegian.
As the preventive suspension remains in effect and the reported criminal case proceeds through legal channels, questions regarding the circumstances of the incident and the developments that may follow remain unresolved.
Amid the celebration of International Women’s Month, the issue further raises serious concerns about safe spaces within the university.
The lack of transparency regarding the case highlights the need for clear communication from those in positions of public trust. The demand for accountability remains high, as student leaders are expected to uphold the ethical standards they pledged to follow.
This is a developing story.
EDITORS’ NOTE: If you were affected and/or uncomfortable by the contents of this article, you may reach the National Center for Mental Health crisis hotlines at (0917) 899 8727 and (0917) 989 8727. PsycServ can be reached at (0916) 757 3157 while the University Health Service emergency hotline is 981 8500 loc. 111.
Reports of abuse and other cases may be sent to the Office for Student Ethics through 0981 850 0450 / 89818500 loc 4509 or its email ose.upd@up.edu.ph. Meanwhile, sexual harassment reports may be filed to the UP Diliman Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment through its Facebook page or email oash.upd@up.edu.ph. Their office is also located at 6/F Student Union Building, UP Diliman, Quezon City 1101. Furthermore, the UP Diliman Police may be contacted at 8981-8500 local 113.
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